The Homemade Chef

02/03/2026

Last week was a tough week for us. We had an unexpected death in the family, and I jumped into action to help in the best way I could - into the kitchen. In less than 12 hours, I prepared:
Regular lasagna
Eggplant lasagna
Chicken matzo ball soup
Vegetarian matzo ball soup
Homemade chicken stock
Baked chocolate chip cookies
Baked 2 fresh, homemade challah loafs
Baked apple pie bars

Packaged everything up in disposable containers, and drove the food down for grieving family to enjoy a hearty homemade meal in their time of despair.

I can’t do anything to bring back our family member, but I did something she loved - cooked, and made sure everyone had homemade comfort food to keep them strong for the grieving process and funeral.

My kitchen did survive, but barely!

09/21/2025

L’shana Tova!

06/07/2025

8:30 am and I’ve made 3 dozen cookies, pizza sauce, 2 batches of pizza dough and Parmesan cups. Why aren’t I a caterer again?

03/06/2025

are the perfect accompaniment to a big bowl of on an early day! I make mine in the bread machine and dot each one with and top with fleur de sel.

01/19/2025

5-8” of snow tonight calls for warm and hearty and for !

11/27/2024

Almost turkey day! Things are coming along!

✅ turkey out of brine and drying in the fridge
✅ dressing assembled
✅ frosting made for cake
✅ roll dough made
✅ table set
✅ centerpiece made
✅ two Christmas trees decorated

11/26/2024

Day 2:
✅ dressing vegetables prepared
✅ 1 cake done
✅ soup base made
✅ bread drying for dressing
✅ salted caramel cooling
✅ table linens set out
✅ chicken stock made
✅ tired 😴

11/26/2024

✅ Turkey brining in the fridge
✅ Gravy base made
✅ Cakes baked
✅ Salted caramel made
✅ Flowers ready for the centerpiece

Thanksgiving week is off to a good start!

10/15/2024

With the leaves in full autumn colors and the temperatures starting to drop, it's time to start thinking about the holidays! I've said this before, and I'll say it again - homemade chicken stock is really the best you can get. It's a breeze to make, makes the house smell fantastic, and makes a LOT. You can easily buy reusable quart containers online, freeze the stock, and I'll say it - it's the unsung hero of the holidays!...

With the leaves in full autumn colors and the temperatures starting to drop, it’s time to start thinking about the holidays! I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again – h…

10/13/2024

Happy Thanksgiving to all my Canadian friends and family!

10/11/2024

If you’re not using a small ice cream scoop for cookies, you’re doing something the hard way! Easy to scoop, easy to transfer, and all your cookies will be the same size and perfectly round!